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O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 7
MANITOBA has a rich mining history
that has shaped the development of the
province. Some communities in this prai-
rie province were planned around the
mines they would serve. The Town of
Lynn Lake was founded in 1950 when a
huge nickel deposit was discovered there.
A 165-mile winter road was constructed
from Sherridon where existing buildings
and equipment were transported to Lynn
Lake by tractors. Sherridon was destined
to become a ghost town as the Sherridon
Copper Mine ran out of ore.
The Town of Thompson was also
founded after a major ore body was discov-
ered in 1956. The town was named after
INCO's chairman, John F. Thompson.
The Fraser Institute's 2016 Survey of
Mining and Exploration listed Manitoba
as the world's second most attractive
jurisdiction for mining investment next
to Saskatchewan. The annual survey com-
pared 104 mining jurisdictions' mineral
potential and mining policy.
According to the Government of
Manitoba, in 2016, Manitoba produced
$1.09 billion worth of metallic minerals of
which nickel accounted for 29.1%, copper
25%, gold 15.2%, zinc 25.3%, silver 2.5%
and other metals 2.9%. Manitoba pro-
duced $229.1 million worth of industrial
minerals in 2016.
A significant Canadian producer of
resources, in 2016, Manitoba produced
34.7% of Canada's zinc, 6.3% of Canada's
cobalt, 11.1% of Canada's nickel, 6.1%
of Canada's copper, 2% of Canada's gold,
9.8% of Canada's silver and 100% of
Canada's cesium.
As are most other mining jurisdictions,
Manitoba's resource industry is dealing
with challenging and unpredictable global
Manitoba Mining
and Exploration
by Kathrine Moore
MINING
